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Piltdown
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
 Posted - 06/03/2002 : 01:53:28
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Last Friday, I was a guest on a local radio call-in show. The subject was conspiracy theories, sort of an anti-ArtBell effort. The response was very positive and it appears that I will be a regular from now on.
In the process of adopting this higher profile, I've run across more and more people who question the necessity for this kind of interest. This has happened before, but it was fairly rare since most of my interaction as a skeptic has been with either skeptics or believers and not with the general public.
Now, I hear things like "why worry about it" or "I can't stand people who are so negative" or even "why don't you just let these people believe what they want to". I've even heard people question whether we should teach critical thinking in schools. The comment here is something like "can't people be free to choose how they will think?" The latter comment, of course, is yet another version of what I have come to call the "Amendment X" ploy, the inference that advocating and explaining a particular position is somehow limiting someone else's freedom or compromising their rights.* In this case, I responded that,"learning about critical thinking does not limit anyone's freedom, they are still free to be superstitious or irrational if they so choose. It actually enhances their freedom since now they have more options." It's pretty hard for me to hold my temper with those who demand that I justify my lack of apathy to them, but I usually manage to do it.
In the broad sense, I think I do this because people who cared about public issues and who took some kind of activist position were the ones who have changed the world for the better in the last few hundred years.
*"Amendment X" is the mythical amendment to the US Constitution that grants immunity to criticism, along with the right to an audience ("the right to be heard") and the right to be taken seriously.
Authority has every reason to fear the skeptic, for authority can rarely survive in the face of doubt.
-Robert Lindner
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
 Posted - 06/03/2002 : 10:13:33 [Permalink]
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quote:
Last Friday, I was a guest on a local radio call-in show. The subject was conspiracy theories, sort of an anti-ArtBell effort. The response was very positive and it appears that I will be a regular from now on.
I responded that,"learning about critical thinking does not limit anyone's freedom, they are still free to be superstitious or irrational if they so choose. It actually enhances their freedom since now they have more options." It's pretty hard for me to hold my temper with those who demand that I justify my lack of apathy to them, but I usually manage to do it.
Congratulations on your new found area of fame. 
Don't let them make you loose your cool. Continue to point out that it's better to have a choice. If you can do that without getting upset you come off as more informed and intelligent. Of course you know that, this is just some words of encouragement.
Good luck D.
* * * * * *
*Carabao forever.
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Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease
to be amused. |
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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2002 : 20:42:01 [Permalink]
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Piltdown,
First, congratulations on your potentially new gig. Second, this radio station wouldn't be webcast would it?
Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.
-D. Hume |
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Mespo_man
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2002 : 11:34:22 [Permalink]
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quote:
In the broad sense, I think I do this because people who cared about public issues and who took some kind of activist position were the ones who have changed the world for the better in the last few hundred years. [Piltdown]
The standard rule of sales may apply here, Piltdown. "90% of sales are generated by 10% of the sales force"
Consider yourself among the 10% pushing against the inertia of the other 90%.
The epitath of American culture may be written by a future archeologist who, digging through a 21st century house foundation, can correlate the location of the TV remote in juxtaposition to the LA-Z-BOY recliner. 
(:raig |
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Zandermann
Skeptic Friend
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2002 : 11:35:02 [Permalink]
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| I'd reply to this topic ("Apathy"), but I just don't care... |
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2002 : 12:55:36 [Permalink]
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quote:
I'd reply to this topic ("Apathy"), but I just don't care...
From George Carlin:
Scientist have discovered a cure for apathy but noone is paying them any attention.
Cthulu/Asmodeus, when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2002 : 19:01:05 [Permalink]
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In answer to "Amendment X" I would counter that just as someone has a right to go on the radio to tell the world about their conspiracy theory, you have a right to go on the radio to point out the errors if there are any.
I would also bring up Timothy McVeigh. That should shut anyone with half a brain up. Those with less than half a brain are probably beyond reaching.
 @tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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